City of Fort Worth Hosts Special Screening of When I Rise Dec. 8

AUSTIN, Texas – Movies That Matter: A Human Rights Film Series and program of the City of Fort Worth’s Human Relations Commission is proud to present a special screening of When I Rise on December 8, 2011 commemorating International Human Rights Day.

Barbara Smith Conrad, the subject of the film, will make a special appearance at the first public screening in Fort Worth of the award-winning, feature-length documentary which premiered on the acclaimed PBS series Independent Lens last February.

The Fort Worth film event will take place at 7 p.m. December 8, 2011 at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell Street, and will begin with a special performance by Ms. Conrad. Following the film, Ms. Conrad and Dr. Don Carleton, the film’s executive producer and executive director for the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, will participate in a moderated discussion.

Admission to the event is free, but seating is limited. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis the day of the event beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Movies That Matter is a free, quarterly film series highlighting important human rights issues. Each event features a movie screening, followed by a moderated discussion with experts knowledgeable about the film’s topic. Screenings are held in March, June, September, culminating in December with a special event to commemorate International Human Rights Day on December 10.

When I Rise tells the inspiring story of a gifted black student at the University of Texas who is thrust into a civil rights storm that changes her life forever. Barbara Smith Conrad is cast in an opera to co-star with a white male classmate, fueling a racist backlash from members of the Texas legislature. When Barbara is expelled from the cast, the incident escalates to national news, prompting unexpected support from a pop superstar. This small-town girl, whose voice and spirit stem from her roots in East Texas, emerges as an internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano and headlines on stages around the world. When I Rise is an inspirational journey toward finding forgiveness within oneself. When I Rise was produced by The University of Austin Briscoe Center for American History and was made possible in part by AT&T.

Movies That Matter is made possible through several community partnership including our host venue the Modern, Fort Worth Library, Fort Worth Independent School District, Multicultural Alliance, Lone Star Film Society, and Q Cinema; as well as sponsorships from the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth Inc., Fort Worth Botanical Society and the Fort Worth Library.

Ms. Conrad will be available for scheduled press interviews Tuesday, Dec. 6 through Thursday, Dec. 8. Please contact Veronica Villegas via email at Veronica.Villegas@FortWorthTexas.gov or by cell phone at 817-353-2287 for additional information or to make an appointment.